Nah, it only charges when on completely. There are alternatives to the USB charger if you want. I've never had much of a problem with it because you can play while charging.

True.

The controller recently got low, a few minutes later I turned off the system after reaching a save point. I was just curious if it was still charging or not.

I plan to buy a second controller in a few weeks anyway, for both consoles. You always want at least two for 2 player gaming. So when I get it I'll just keep on on charge while using the other, and just switch back and forth.

Well it doesn't need to be. PS2 had long cables, but it was a wired controller, it was connected all the time. For all intent and purposes, PS3's cable is only a charger. It doesn't need to be long.

I guess Sony figured the likelihood of most gamers only owning one controller was pretty low. So like my buddy does now, and I'll be doing myself soon, you'd always have one controller in play and one on charge.

That's a lot to me. A controller shouldn't be the price of a new game.

Maybe, but this is a new age for controllers as well as controls. Wireless tech, motion sensing tech. Going buy that I think the high end complete bundle pack for a PS3 should be at $250 while the regular package is down where 360 is at $199. But, that isn't how it is. Regular PS3 is still 250 while the package is 300, so what can ya do, it is what is.

It will definitely take this gen, if not next gen, for these improvements to find themselves common place, and for the tech to be cheap enough to produce that Sony is able to low prices to where people want it. Then retail will always sell at a certain level so both the store and Sony can take there sheer. I remember buying WWE Smackdown VS Raw in 2010 for PS2. Although reprints on PS2 was going for $20, a actual new release was still $45 plus tax.

All I can say is if the price is to high to pay straight out, put aside so much money now and then and save up.